eports
of guns and blinding flashes of fire as the great machines whirled and
maneuvered in the air, and then the German, finding himself outnumbered
and with no way of escape, came to earth and was taken prisoner.

"Three of 'em bagged, by George," exclaimed Jim to Uncle Sam, when the
aviator was safely locked up in the guardhouse, "and all due to the
pluck and sense of those two kids. If it hadn't been for them, the
chances are we'd all have been ready for cold storage by this time.
They've saved the camp--that's what they've done! There are explosives
enough stored here to have blown every one of us to Kingdom-come!"

"Right you are, Jim," replied Uncle Sam with hearty emphasis, "we
surely do owe them something, and that's a cinch. Let's talk with the
boys."

That night Uncle Sam and Jim made eloquent use of all the French they
knew as they sat about the camp-fire, and told the story of Pierre and
Pierrette to their comrades in arms. Not only did they tell of their
finding the spies and saving the camp from destruction, but of their
Father, wounded at the Marne, of their experience in the Cathedral at
Rheims, and of all they had suffered there, and especially of their
plucky Mother whose spirit no misfortune could break. And when they had
finished the tale, the men gave such a hearty cheer for the whole
Meraut family that it was heard in the village a mile away, though no
one there had the least idea what the noise was about.

The next day Uncle Sam and Jim appeared in Fontanelle and told the
story of the spies to the Doctor and Mademoiselle, and then they held a
long private conference with Mother Meraut. The children were on pins
and needles to know what they were talking about, and why Mother Meraut
looked so happy afterward, but she only shook her head when they begged
her to tell them, and said, "Someday you'll find out."

Two days later an orderly rode into the Chateau gate on horseback, and
inquired for Pierre and Pierrette Meraut. At the moment he arrived the
Twins were feeding the rabbits, but they came running to the gate when
their Mother called them, and the orderly handed them an envelope with
their names on it in large letters. The Twins were so excited they
could hardly wait to know what was inside. They had never before
received a letter. Their Mother opened it and read the contents to the
astonished children. This was the note:--

"The Commandant and men of the Foreign Legion request the pleasu